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»»■»»»«»■■»« 111 p.* 

WILDERNESS 
CAMPAIGN 



--* 



VIVIAN MINOR I LEMING 
FREDERICKSBURG. V'A. 



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GIFT 

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V(^K VW'OK n 



This acrtiunl uf the liattU- of thr WiKirmr<i« waj prrparrtl 
with t-xtrrtnr rarr ami tiilif^rnt work, and I think it it an accu- 
rate ilrvription of thr tnuvcmrnis of thr two amiir«. 

Thr articlr was cumpiird fnHD official rrportt, and f^nrral 
ortirr<t. an to actual occurrrnct-^, and taken largrlr from his- 
torical accounts of Northern a<t well as Southern historians. 

Tlie dates of attack, and in many instances the liours of 
tlir day. are all embracrtl in this account. 

I. myself, was in the entire Campaign of the WiKlcrnen 

and man\ iiistancrs lure ri'Indd cntiir tiiiiiir in\ hmh dhsj-rxn- 

tion. 

Vivian M. Fi.cmin'o. 

Author. 



I he W ilclcnu'ss Campaign. 



KiMAT Day or May, isiil Tlir rurtain falU upon Mradr'* 
campaign •■ CfMiimamlrr-in-Ctiicf of the Armr of tlir I'olnmac, 
anil ' • I . ' ' ■ , (|„. Wrtilrrn Aniiv. i« 

i\\>' I !• il a« a trial of *lri-n^tii 

of tlir Frtlrral forcm, wliirli were ronatantiv augmmtrtl by 
lar. :• ' Ir 

l»> . . <• 

of the Govrmmrnt »trctchrd ' mi»«t limit for matrrial 

with ithith l«> Mipply r%'rry n< • «! «>f tiiin iii" Tliin 

otTii-rr. (it-nrral l*. S. Grant, had won ittii^ , .talion 

for hia roilitarv ability in thr Wrat. Il< iimi%%ionni 

a« ! ' nrral by l*n-«idrnt I.inttiin aixI iiiadr Com 

niAt : of all the- nnnira of the I'nitcd Statm, at 

thiA tiror r%tiinatrd at one million mm. Cirant atHTptrd thi« 
tnut. and tiimrd over to Major-CMnrml Sin rman \\\s com- 
mand of thr NVr*trm Army. He pn»«i««l« «l to Culiirftrr ami 
tiHtk iMTMiiial (hnri;t- of thr Army of thr I'otoinar. 

The Spring • i wn% prrct'drd in Frbniary by two 

iiiiurmrnt^ of tli< i ' ' *• *' - ' ---.r of Grn- 

rral H. I'. Hullir up . thrralrn- 
ing for a »hort time Klchmond. Hin hn|>es. however, were 
disp " ' ' ' ' ' !' ' 1.1. The other, 
an ■ nly of cavalry 
from Rapitlan to Richmond. The object of thi« movrment wa* 
to r • T ' T Thin 
oMir I t\ _ when 
atlaik'd. rapidly rrtreated. AntI that part of hit command, 
tindrr I ' ■\. and a large por- 
tion kil- _ ' ' „- iivlf. 

It i« hoped, for humanity's ukr. that Dahlgrrn'* de«ign« 



6 The W ildciiiess Campaign. 

Win- clintrml iroin wlial wtrt- iiiiiicalcd by ])a|)(rs ioiiml on 
his body after dtalli, wliii li sil forth the purpose of his mis- 
sion. Thi-sc j)apcrs conlaiiuil niinulf instructions fonctrning 
llu- rclt-asc of the jjrisonirs in Libby Prison and othtr prison 
barra( ks in Richmond, and giving up the city to them as well 
as the putting to death of I'rcsident Davis and his Cabinet. 
Grant now assumes tlic ilirectiim of the Army under very 
favorable circumstances. This new commander enters upon 
this great struggle under very different conditions from other 
commanders of the Federal Army. Personally and politically 
General Grant was acceptable to President Lincoln and re- 
ceived his hearty co-operation. All power was placed in his 
hands and the best troops of the Federal Army were added to 
his command. He had now under him an armv of veterans, 
and the army opposed to him had lost strength month by 
month. It seemed, under such conditions, he should have 
crushed his enemy in a few months. 

The Federal Army, ready for duty May 1, 1864. numbered 
one hundred and forty-one thousand and sixty men. Lee con- 
fronted this force with fifty thousand, his force being little 
over one-third of Grant's. The accessions to Grant's army 
between the 1st and 1th of May still increased the odds against 
Lee's command. From a glance, at this discrepancy, one 
could readily see the conception of the Federal Government 
was ins))ired with the purpose of extermination, confronted as 
it was by an army one-third its size, with an inadequate sup- 
ply of both food and ammunition. 

Longstreet's Corps at this time bad reached Gordonsville 
from its Chickamauga Campaign in Tennessee. Grant had 
been urged by many of his advisors to move his army to the 
James and thus enconipass Richmond within a radius of 
twenty miles, but he steadfastly declined upon the ground 
that Lee's army first of all was his objective, and the siege of 
Richmond without the elimination of Lee's army first would 
amount to nothini;. Wliile the conception of such a plan was 



Thf WiUlrmi'sis CainpaiKii. 7 

guotl. tlir failurr of it* |nir|M»ftr rnUilrti • big toll of lo%f, 
inclutling killed •ml wuumlrtL Ixe's anBy, •• tonir Nortl»rm 
r piitn it. ia an aniiy of trtrrani kt. > , ' 

What if Villi ilitl turn itn llank. it > 
all that I'oulil Ik- muI or i-onnitlrrrd fn>ni an rffcctivc itand- 
|taiint wa* tlir Ut%% of Iifr. With an ^r thr 

Sotitlirm Ann\ , tUfrat in a ilay or bati 4 in 

itM-lf. (irant M-rtnrd to undrmtand tliia. anil hrncc hit pur- 
pose of t-itrrmination, for hr «oldly raltulatrd (hat hr could 
Itcttrr (lulurr ttir lo^n of trii nirii than itiuld Ia-v one. 

Thr Federal ('«»mmantlrr lu-«itatrd iH-twrcn two plan*, one 
to rffect a (-ro<t«ing of the Uapulan below I^e. by rapid imit'r- 
mrnt on hi* right (lank; the other above and movin)( by hia 
left. This lait wa«i aliandonetl hr rraium of thr diffieultr of 
keeping o|M-n i-timmunieation with any ba»e of Hiipplie*. It 
i^ pr«>|>er to kerp in mind that this design of (feneral Ctrant. 
l^-e t-ompletely revrmrd. by ino\ ing in front of him rvery »trp 
whieli hr tiMtk in advanet*. Thr Frtlrral Commandrr, bring 
foiird in every way to gain the mawtery of I-er by strategy. 
%»a* (-om|M-lled to attopt a plan that did not enter hi* mind, 
rxerpt a* a la«t rr«ort. So on tlir 4th of May (irant Itrgan 
« r !ie Rapitlan at Cm r mhI other ford* alMtve Chan- 

« • < and by May tin - > ulire army wa* over. The 

raar and faeility with whieh he rros*e<l the Rapidan with no 
inoI« station wao (piitr a ^iirprisr to him. an*! r>i;nrdeil by him- 
M-lf n* a great *ur»-r**. I.er made no m«»vrmrnt to di«piite 
hia paaaagr acrou thr atrram; hr prrfrrrrd to takr thr mraa- 
urr of hi* advrrsary'* strength and attark hi* flank a* flrant'* 
ndiimn pa*«rd across his front. Thr idea obtaimd among thr 
Frdrral rommandrrs was that I.rr intmdrd falling bark to thr 
North .\nna rl\er and there take up hi* line of defense. Ijrr'n 
roovitnents. however, were very different. In*tead of retiring 
before thr Frtlrral forrc* in thr dirrrtion of Rirhmond. hr 
movrd with thrrr army corps toward* the Wilderness, to offer 
hattlr. 



8 The Wilderness Cainpaij:;!!. 

'I'lu- Iliad ot till ('(iiifi (Itralc loliiinii lonsisltd of J'^wcH's 
♦•orps. wliitli n taiiifd its jxisilion on tlje Uapidaii. 'I'liis corps 
fonm-d the right of Ltr 's line. A. 1*. Hill, who had btcn sla- 
lioncd higher up in thr \itinity of Liberty Mills, followed, and 
Longstreet, who was near (Jordoiis\ illi . Itrought iij) the rear. 
This disposition of the three army erops named was dic- 
tated by the conditions for tlie ensuing struggle. I'lwell ad- 
\aiieed in front down tin old turnjjike, running east and west 
nearest, and along the lla])idan. Hill came over the Orange 
I'lank road, parallel to atid south of the old turnjiike. thus 
forming on J-.well's right, who, as stated, was moving down 
that road, and Longstreet, following, came in on the right of 
Hill. 

CJrant hail plunged his army in the dense wilderness, which 
had been the scene of Hooker's discomfiture the year before. 
His army, followed by a wagon train of four thousand wagons, 
indicated the ])reparations for a permanent campaign. These 
had reached the Wilderness Tavern and the Brock road, over 
which Jackson liad made that "Secret Flank Movement," a 
year before (May, 1863) on Hooker's right wing. 

In order to have a proper understanding of this great Bat- 
tle of the Wilderness, keep well in mind that nothing surprised 
Crranl more than the sudden appearance of Lee in this dense 
thicket and under-brush. He misinterpreted Lee entirely, for 
he did have a general knowledge of the condition of Lee's 
army, as well as its vast numerical infiM'iority to his own. .V 
natural construction of Lee's movemints woidd place his 
column on a rajiid retreat towards Richmond, but instead, like 
an apparition, he ajipeared in this dark wilderness, and ready 
to attack the vast host of his adversary. The last thing that 
suggested itself to Grant's mind was that Lee was not only 
confronting him. but preparing to bring on an attack. Having 
this offensive movement in mind, Lee moved with liis usual 
celcritv and energy. 



Vhr W 



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I'll . itiK, m>tli 



Momiii 



l.*»rll niovrd 
in ttir tmcr of tli> 



in 
iit« UHii •■ the 

(i c«in|>ril that nifHit 
of 



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10 Tiir W ildcrness Cami)aign. 

This iJrbt collisiDH oi the Armies on l^c's left was followttl 
iininc-diatcly by a inosl bloody struggle- on the crnlLr. This 
j)urt t)f the line was luld by A. ['. lliU, who hail niarchiil down 
till- Plank road and near the intersection of that road with the 
iiroek. road (a very iiuporlant point), when he was suddenly 
attaeked by the enemy. This was likewise a desperate strug^ 
gle, which resulted, as the other attacks, when the enemy was 
driven back. 

The (ith of May came, and at dawn the two adversaries 
confronted each other as by common consent, they both being 
prepared for action. The battle wliich followed is well nigh 
indescribable. While nearly one-half of Grant's army thus 
vainly strives to break through Hill's corjis. Lee sends swift 
messages to Ewell to move forward and capture the Wilder- 
ness Tavern Ridge road and thus cut Grant oH' from the Raj)i- 
(lan. I'well starts; sends two brigades against the center of 
Sedgwick's corps, but Sedgwick had fortified himself liehind 
a barracade of logs, and Ewell holds back his men. From 
Hill's center a counter charge is made by Heath, which re- 
sulted in the capture of Rickett's battery, but the gims are lost 
again. Hill's right is pushed by Wilcox around Hancock's left 
and two Federal brigades are routed. Hancock makes re- 
peated and desperate attacks, but Hill's line is unyielding, 
while the Confederate cavalry drives back Sheridan's advance 
column. A heavy tribute of blood has Lee exacted of Grant, 
and as the shadows of night deepened into darkness a tenv 
porary quiet followed. 

Lee sends dispatch to Richmond, "All is yet well, by the 
blessing of God we maintained our position, against every 
effort, until night, when the contest closed." Longstrcet had 
only made a twelve mile advance during tli« entire day. At 
8 P. M. Lee sends courier to order Longstreet to make a night 
march, promising Hill at the same time that his men should be 
relieved at early dawn, and he sends Ewell orders to make an 
early attack on May 7th with the left wing of the Confederate 



T\\v \ViKli-nH*Ks C'lUnpaiKii- 11 

Anny. Ix-r Mrks rrst u|M>n thr liarr groumi antonK hii wrmrj 
mm. Hi* pUiu arr laid to |niah Kwcll. I^*nfr»trrr1. and 
Aiulrr^on •! (ii\i<»i<)n« of Hill •» ior|»« in t 
tlr a^ainit hjih Hanks of (irm.' > mny. 

IcrtMind whrrr thrjr Im lirj had little food; thejr 

tihtk tittir carr to wtniigllMii ii.«ir l>r- v for I-<mK^ 

utrrrl'ii mrn wrrr imtlrr onlrrit t«> tnakr n ; , . .»rth and take 
llill'ii |Mi%ition. An Iknif «ftrr midniiclit I<ang«trrrt biraks 
<«inp antl follow* a aiMrial kiihI*- towardi tlir ha" 

At rarly ilawn I'.wrll o|M-n<i tire alon^ tin- Cou: left 

wing. Ia-v again takm up thr part of tin- a»c>n'r%»or. Warrm 
and Srilgwirk rrplv to Kwcll, and then fnmi Irft (o right along 
thf rntirr linr of the Confrdiratr^ thr hattlr h<-gin«. ' »■ "•••' 
thr night HumHidr (-nt%«rd thr lUpitlan Mitli twrnty ' 
mrn, and (irant ortirrrd hiii rntirv army to makr aaaauit along 
thr \\ ! ' ' /it five in thr morning. Hanro«k lrad« on«*half 
of th' li anny against l^r'% right and Huni«idr movr« 

forward to pirror thr crntrr. I^ee had plannr«l for I^>ng- 
''<! arri\al Uforr dawn lo rtllor Ilill. and hi* <!■ ' ' ' 
All thin nrw nttark of IlAiuxH'k'% «>n IliH\ fr 
•oldirm already wrarr with l«>ng continiird fighting. Ilill'i 
«rntrr "iIihhI until \V«.!- • .- • ■ j^fj 

Hank; thrn Hant-mk'o ^^ 

linr. (ram thrir romhinrd a««aults, waa drivm ha* • 
prratrly Hill** mrn hrhl and ■ IS" I>'U^ 

%lrrrt'« tanlinr** rau«rd thr gr. _ . » riglit wing. 

liill't mrn hati hrm forr«d hack u|>on Pnagnr'a battalion 
of artillrry. that «t«Ht«l a« a bulwark in thr way of thr Frdrral 
••)< -^M<-r. and llannvk darr« not pau Poagnr'« gra|M- and 
'rr. Jutt brhind thrar gun* la Ixx on hor%rl>ark. aaying 
morr than onrr. "Why don't I/on|Citrrrt onnr '" From thr 
Confrdrratr Irft wing romr« thr heavy ainind of Itattlr. 

F.wrll hatI mannrd hi« log Mitrk* with rannon and hraprti 
diaa«trr upon Warrrn and Sr«lgwick. At la«t I>rr't cotintrr 
«tmkr upon llan«xx-k i« prrparrd. In rioard rank« and doable 



12 Tlu' Wilderness ('ain|)aifj;n. 

folmnii. advaiu-in^ rapidly down llic I'laiiU ntad. rushes Lon^- 
slrtfl, al last! I'irld s di\isi()n on tin- l<l"t. sid<' by side willi 
Krrsliaw's on llic rii^lil. The lliundrr tif 1'oaf^in's j^inis shakis 
ihf very *arth. Ltt- ri(hs forwanl to ni«rt lh«- htad of I'ii Id's 
division. "W'hal hoys an- these? " he asks. "T«xas boys!" is 
the (juiek reply from the hrii<;a(h- that onee followed Ho<»<l. I)ut 
now led by (irej;;^. "^ly 'IV-xas l)oys you must ehart;e." The 
ConfciK'ratcs go wild at the sight of liiis gray haind. gray- 
beared man; their voiees grow hoarse with joy al the sight of 
Robert 1",. Lee! 

The line of battle is at onee formed. Tiny a<l\ anee beyond 
the batteries against Hancock. Immediately iK-hind the line 
rides Lee to direct the charge in person. "Chahcjk Boys!" 
Lee's deep thrilling call as he advances into the thickest of 
the fight. His men at once divine his desperate purpose and 
they exclaim as with one accord. "Go back. General Lee!" 
I>ee rides onward, waving his old gray hat, when the cry rent 
the very heaven — "Lee to the rear! Lee to the rear!" A tall, 
lank, rugged Texas sergeant moves from the ranks, catches the 
bridle rein and turns Traveler's head to the rear. A look of 
disappointment flashed o\ ( r the face of Lee. but he felt that 
patriotism demanded for the good of the cause that he should 
not risk himself. At the head of this column dash the Tcxans. 
They were the heroes of First Cold Harbor. Second Manassas. 
Sharpsburg and Round To]). 

At the very head of the Federal Army, massed in the Plank 
road, the brigade flings itself. The Federal fire is ceaselessly 
]>ouring into their front and flanks. As one writer says. "To 
the right of them, to the left of them, in front of them, mus- 
kets and cannon volley and thunder, but into the jaws of death 
charge the eight hundred." 

Benning and Anderson, with their Georgians, and Law. his 
Alabaraians, crash forward against the encircling host. The 
forest rings with yells, and the roar of battle becomes fearful; 
half the Texas brigade falls in ten minutes. But the tide of the 



The- Wihi l.'i 

Knlrral *ll«''>«« \tn\ lt< < ■■ ttiriif<l 1t«a L. "iintf r «tr^>L• 

l« otlllinurtl 
1 M-l.t «l 

The itmJi , 

Kn>w(li. Thr fri»i<i of i 

•ninir. .\iiilrr%i»ii |{i^<'^ itii|irtu« '- ittark; Hili • tnrtt 

rrliim to tin fruni. 

lO A. .M. lour liri|catlr« «»f Lonir«lrr<H. iinHrr \f«luinr. 
move on ri|{hl Hank. Thr rut of an i> « 

llit-rn tt»vrr I lilt l»ri»/ '' - ' 

ouiiiiiAnil. Wall trill 

•n«i rr«r ami roll up hi* r- . (to ra|irrMi it in Ham^M-k « 

»onU). I.ik. « %».f ' II A V * ' 

rnlirr fonr akniiihI ii . Tttnt «n. 

im|M-tuH. II i« rominaitti k ami bmkf^ in fraff 

iitrtilH. an<| \\'n>\ i i ' 

throw II ill ^^^llt • 

mlirr left wing mutrd and divtrganiirtl ; tlirir mrti I 

in • ■ 

Wni 

now like a lion thorou^hl^ n Grant's 



putn himself at thr hrad of Krrahaw'i division ami pU' 

.It ro'k* thr T' 

»...!, I ..t* •!,. ■ 

tiii«tnk< iiiiii t>>r itlti a filil v<' 

till ( M III rnl ■•■ ' ■ ' •■'■• '•■ - - 

iiinili l«%- .In 
vol). . klllnl. 

ahlr tl.r 

Th. ami 

anotlii r ;• rriiii. roni ••! i[i. . • mu;. \» ,x ,. . rtt .| h-. (in lall of 



11 The Wildcmcss Cainimi^ii. 

Lungslrnt. L< r lm.sl(ii> to slraigliltii »>iil this line of baltlt'. 
At four o'clock lli( orilt r lo charge is given, tlirougli fianu- and 
smokf. upon tin- Uroik road. l{urnsidc, Itcfort- lliis. had ircatcd 
a stir against Ihc Conftthratf <»nltr. hut Hill iiad already 
quieted the firing of tliis Ninth (orps. 

Kwell sends Early and Gordon to encompass Sedgwiik's 
right flank at the very time he presses his right wing against 
Hancock's three lines of defense. The forest fire has reached 
the front line of the Federal logs; onward rusli the divisions 
of Field and Anderson. They ojjcn with heavy musketry fire, 
but Haniock's second lin«- is defended by heavy field pieces. 
wliicli swctj) llu' til hi. I p to tlic \ ( ry breastworks on Han- 
cocks line the C'onfedcralcs rush. A gap is made and the 
Federal line crumbles and turns in flight The Confederate 
flag is triumi)h.inlly placed on Hancock's first line of defense, 
but his second and third arc impregnable. The Federal artil- 
lery compel the Confederates to loosen their grij) on Han- 
cock's fortress. 

The sun is setting and Gordon is ready for the charge 
against Grant's extreme right. The Confederate brigades 
beyond the turnj^ikc arc facing south and directly along 
Grant's line of battle. They advance at the well-known sound, 
in the distance, of the "Rebel Yell." Sedgwick's right is en- 
gaged in constructing a log fortification, but the men lay down 
their axes and tools and join their Brigadier as prisoners of 
war. The second brigade is likewise broken and a second 
Brigadier is captured. When Jenkins falls Gordon is in ])os- 
session of a mile of Grant's rifle pits and six hundred prisoners, 
including Generals Shaler and Seymour. In this dense thicket 
Gordon's men find themselves in a state of confusion, so he 
halts. The Federal Sixth corps is drawing back beyond the 
danger zone to a line of defense, just established along the 
Germana road. Grant writes, "Had there been day light the 
enemy would have injured us seriously." This fearful strug- 
gle, in brush and tangled wood, had closed with T.ee. pressing 



Tlu- W iidiTiM'ji.*' CainpuiKii. 15 

(irant's rif(iit and Irft •nil he making draprratr rffurta to gel 
aMa\. draiil had rvidrnlly luat his first i-«ini-r|iltun at making 
i.rr's Annjr hi* objective. When aakcd why he did not iiKnr 
his anny in an rmtMiipasiung cirilr aroumi Ruhnvttul. whuii 
hr lould have dour witlhuil thr I<>»s uf a tuan. b\ wa} o( the 
James ami York rivers, hia reply wm, tJiat Lcc's Army, first 
of all, %ra« hU main purpoM- ; not one momrnt o^-- - .- that 

l^rt had the ability to grt him in that intrnuiiia: t in 

the Mrildeme%s and keeping him ihrrc at a most Ireroendnua 
toll of human life. Hut he did leani a »rry .! ' ' 
le%Min. ami hr wa« \a>tly more niixiout to mak« 1 
objective, and let I.,re's Army alone, but I..«>e did not |K-rmit 
him • '^ that »i-' : '-M him \\ ' ' ' f 

ne\ < ' n <t |><•<^ (l>f t r« ; 

to one. 

.Vn the M roiul il."»\ f»>m« i to n » of 'An \' 

mai' Mai struggling in |>artty a ' itr, and •<l)i^ 

enabled to hold iti line l>ehind three heavr walls of lof( con- 
Atrurtion. ami alvt draws it« riglit wine U hind frr«hl'« <'>«i 
structed intrent-hmrnts. So in that attitude (irant i» h- li. 
Hi« defensive |Mtiiition, however. It to strong that Iax did not 
derm it wi%e to attack. If sut-erss or failure, drtrrminrd by 
the \o\% of men. the ailvantage orrtainly rented with Ijcr. as 
the official e«timate of thew few days put Grant's loaa at 
I7.000 men. while I.ee'« was ont^ lialf that niimlN-r 

May 7th «Uwns bright and riear and Grant ordt rr%\ Mi aiI<- 
to make a night's march tn .^|«ot<iylvania Court Hitu«e : Han 
cxH'k was to hold his position, while Warren le«l the Fifth corps 
!\' ■' '' ' ' thward and Sr«||p»itk moved in the 

.'Ar. Two IVdrral i-^»rp% drew bark 
In front of I.re. while two remained. Ctrant and Meade were 
antioii* for frar of an allaik from thr C ' ' .**o 

a new plan clr\rIoj>rd in fJranl'* mind n- jltrd 

in a despatch to Wasliinglon Official" 'My efforts will be 
to form a jnn«-tJon with Getirral Butler as soon as possible 



K; 'I'lic Wilderness ( "ampniti;!! 

.•mil Ik' ))1( |)ar< tl to im i I any iul<i|)iisiii,L; < in my." Tin- trans- 
latitm of wliitli was to ^rl out of tli< W'iltli iin ss as soon as 
possible, ami form a jiiiulion wilii Unlit r on llir Janus. Ix for«- 
Li-c fonld iiilcrposi- any army to inltrrtpl this movrmcnt. 
"Mv rxarl roulf to the .lames river 1 lia\f not di terniimd." 
lie mi/>:lil further stale, any rout«' to ^'et out of tliis «ntan;;le- 
menl and to net away from Lee's Arniy. wliieli lie felieilaled 
himself would lie an easy (thjeet. Jiefore moving on Riehmontl. 
(Jraiit li.id t iionuli of Lee's Army, and this very dispateh was 
really that he had been entirely (nittceneraled. by an army 
one-third the size of his own. and wanted to j;<t away from it 
as soon as possible; so he now turns to Uullcr. on the .lanu-s. 
as his final hope. 

May Till — Lee ordcreil a road eut south of the Plank road, 
for he anticipated Grant's movements, and wliile Grant was 
felieitating himself that his "Coupe iV Klai" on Spotsylvania 
Court House was a very brilliant move on the war map. Lee 
understood it fully and sent Anderson's eommand. of Lonif- 
street's eorps, to move alony this new road to Sjiotsylvania 
Court House. Anderson's movement beyan at 11 P. M.. Ttli 
of May. by this short line. The Confederates moved ra])idly. 
and one hour before dawn found the Confederates within a 
mile of .Spotsylvania Court House, while Grant thouolit that he 
had entirely fooled Lee in this movement ajid that liis army 
was marehinij in the direction of RieluiKmd. 

Lee's swift movement during the night eiiabUcl him to 
form his line of battle aeross the road on whieh Cirant's troops 
were marehing. This corps held the Court House road and 
Grant's advance failed to dislodge them. The trend of both 
army movements were now soutlieastwar(1. across the swamji 
and bogs, created by the sluggish streams ,if the Po and Xy 
rivers. Lee's quicker marching enabled liim to throw his line 
of battle across the route Grant was moving, with guns facing 
northward au:ainst the Federal column. Grant. bein<r iijiiorant 



Th*' W'ilfltrrH--- ( 'anip:tiirii 



nml 

At a A. M., May tlir irrirnl \» •r|>*, 

• firr » r<'- .... j 

Sctliprick's AMaull. Aa niglit nmics on the Sromd Frdrral 
• H rr|Hil«ni ami Kwrll rtiunlrr rhargnl on thr H|clit of 

During thr niglit tli<* (onfidrratr* U-gan throwitiK up 



thr po»ition iintrnablr, but Kwt-li rallril hin attrntlon to a inuii 
IMiint on tilt- linr (h-fmiinl h\ jMhn»ton\ ««liciit. |-'nNn tlml 
|Mtint thr rnriny'» artillrry t-itiild «wr«-p tliat M-t-tiim of thr 
itMintry lictwc^n thr rivrm. To rioar thi» ri*k Ia-*-. thrrrforr. 
onlrrril hi my >ni»>"» iM-hmil th«' drfrnar to ntvrr ' 
Hrhiiul 'I'tHhl'*! 'l'a\rrn IlAnttH<k'fi t*orp<» lin^' 
nigfit of Mny Hth. "Mv n «tti(iy of thr hnr Mr 
Karly ami Hampton hrhl thr tail of thr «trr|M*nt. whilr Antirr 
»«>n ami F.«rll y^vrv hamnt- - - ' ' ! " May the 0th. rarly 
in thr mornini;. (irnnl t\i- - iilan on a raid in thr 

liirrrtion of Rirlimoml. ami thi« |piTr Ijcr limr to rnnrmtralr 



hark Hiim^iil \y. The latter arrmrd without any 

hia |pin« on Ihr north ami *oiiih alonx thr road, whirh «rnt 
■Ac. Thr Irft wif 
, :• it a* to '.nilr M I 

rrrMtinc thr ffrrat aalim' ^idr wa« lirld hr 

1 

1 : ;.. 

and Irfl. At lhi% anjtli* thr Confrdrratr jinr v^% pu«hrd <»«it 
dor north, onr milr lon|r ami onr-half milr in width. Thr 



18 I'lic W il(l< rncss Campaign. 

.suliliiTh calkd tliis "riii Mule SIiol" (llorst- Slmt- by soiiit ). 
IJy obstTvalion, il rcqiiirtil three times the men to man holh 
sitles of this "shoe" and llie apex as it would, had the line 
heen so contracted as to subtend the opening of the "shoe," 
which (icncral I.ee finally adopted, but not until he had sus- 
tained pretty heavy losses on both sides and at the bend of 
this salient. 

Hancock followed the IJrock road, on May !Hh. to lake tiic 
position on Grant's extreme right. He sent three divisions 
across the Po to attack Lee's left and rear. Grant sought to 
attack Lee's "Mule Shoe" from the north and the two sides, 
cast and west. I ndcr the cover of niglit Lee made ready a 
counter stroke across the Po, below the Court House. He 
moved Hill's division at early dawn of May 10th. Hill fell 
upon the Hank and rear force of Hancock's men just as Han- 
cock was proceeding to carry into execution Grant's order to 
withdraw his men to the northern side of the Po. Grant 
seemed very nervous and timorous in his movements, for lie 
had seen enough of Lee to know that he was reckoning with a 
very different soldier from those he confronted in Tennessee. 
So Grant at once recalled Hancock's column, in order to con- 
centrate in front of the Confederate intrenchments. 

Amid a dense pine thicket Heath made a vigorous attack 
upon Barlow's Federal division, in which Barlow lost many 
men — killed and wounded. Tlirough the burning wood.s — a 
perfect "inferno" — he hastened Hancock's retreat across the 
Po. capturing one of his big guns. 

May 10th. — Grant storms the Confederate works. At 1 1 
.\. M. a strong force assails Lee's left wing. Field's divisions 
clothed their defense with a constant flare of musketry and 
artillery fire and the Federal soldiers ]>ourcd out their blood 
in unstinted quantity and without avail. 

The Federals made a second attack about 3 P. M. against 
the Confederate First corj^s and their second failure equalled 
their first. This repulse was very signal and absolute; so 



Tlir \Vililrrn«-s ( 'uni|miKi) 1'' 

roiu-ii Ml that, after tin lirfrnt >•( tlir KrtirraU. thr C'onfrtirr 
mtr% lra|M-(l ovrr thr fortitu atiiMi^ Ut gathrr up and rollrrt thr 
mu«krt« and ammunition of thi- Frdrral ilrmA and woun4l(«l. 
Thr*r %»rrr dittrdtutrd ahm|{ thr linr of thr Confrdrratr*. till 
r\rry C'onfrdrratr Mihiirr mmh nrmrtl with a l«>ad« il lidrral 
mu«kr( and ammunition. AImmU aumlown tianrock waa unitrd 
with Warnn. ami th- ' ! a lonu and In a» r 

linr and da^lird lhr^t^ < >ii liiir at tliio |Miint 

on hi« Irft wing. llanixH-k'n fn>nt linr wrnt down Itrforr thr 
rapiil fir« «»f I-'irld'i division. ' »rd hra*-' ' •■ 

Srouul I rdrriil linr ovrr thr I-* kh of thr 1 

Ukr tigrrs fought thr nmnaiil of thr hravr "right hunilrr<l, " 
with rluMnd iiiuskrt%. Tin- .1 

.iL'.-iiii-.t till- tlank of thr fin- ni: : , 

\: itir Miuir hour anothrr a»i»ault wa« raging again%t thr 
wr%trm face of Ihr "Mule Shoe." Srtigwirk acnl I'plon** 
hrii;iidi- to rharifr Kwrll'i rrntrr. Thii t-^>mhination of forrr 
hntkr tlin>ugh Dolr'n hrigatir and %wrpt him from thr Con- 
frdrralr work<t. Hattir and Johnson a<l^Allrd him in frt^nt. and 
%till thry gallantly (^>ntinur«i to %trugglr. (fonhm and 
Walkrr'^ hlows u|)«in •'- ! -tfrral flanks fon-r<| I'pton hark 
with hravy lo%.%r)i. 

Srvrral linrs of Kumnidr'^ corps tried to aeise and hlork- 
ade the r«Mid to thr Court IIoii«r, hut Confr«lrratr artillrry. 

' Tutti and Prgram. ^plrndiilly rrmovr«l thi% Frdrral 
■ ••nt. Thin tlay of I'lihral luii riHrr wa% followrd hy a 
day of rain. May lOth. Cirant wires thu% to Ilalirt k : ".^nd to 
Hrllr P' " -Ur inf.iiii ■:**•." May 

nth. II. ..% to U r^ ^.a%t. ■ Wr 

will tight it out on this linr if it takea all niimmrr." May I Ith. 
|.rr ob*rr\r«| ritraonlinary / thr Krtlrral 

trt)op«. Hum%i«ir turn* thr h i «rnt«» thr Ny 

ami marrhes back to the Court Hou«r. Higher up the Po 
marrhe« anothrr Fetleral hrisade. llan<^H-k then withdrew a 



20 'I'lic \\'il<l< riioss Cainpai^;!!. 

(Ii\ isioii Irmii IIk i < (I< rai ri/^lil. I.cc conslruid tliis loiiiiiio- 
lioii lis H willidrawal iruiii tlu- field. Hi iir(l(-r((l all liis artil- 
l«ry on I lie C'lmftdt rali liiu- to Ix- willidrawn and luld in 
r»adintss i'or a march (thus disnianllinj; tin- "Midf Sluu" 
salitnl). In olicdii iicr lo this conimaiid. I.<iniC'»li'itt »(nn- 
niandi-d the i;inis from the salient named, .lohnson's division 
was lift lo LCiiard the apex with nothint; hut infantry and two 
pieces (d artilh ry. At midnij^ht .lohns<m reported a niassitiif 
of tile enemy and asked for a return of the j^nns that had heen 
remo\ed. 1 hrouijh the heavy mist of the moriniiif of the I'JtIi 
of May Ilaneoeks corps rushed forward and eintloped the 
salient (Mule Shoe). Johnson's division was very alert, hut 
infantry alont- could not drive hack the masses of the Second 
corps. Besides the dampness liad aft'ected the muskets of tl>e 
infantry and the iiims failed to fire. 

The Confederate force was about 2.800. commanded hy Kd- 
ward .Johnson, better known as "Allejjhany" Johnson on ac- 
count of the reputation he won in western Virginia. This 2.800 
men were made captives. Other Confederate batteries rushed 
forward to the salient, but not in time. Before they could 
unlimber for action they too were made captives. Twenty 
cannon, in all. and Generals Johnson and Stewart fell into 
Hancoc-k's hands. This was the onlv feat of any consequence 
made by Cirant in this campaiijn. .Vcross the ojienin*; of this 
"Mule .Shoe" Gordon ran his line, thus shorteninu' the Con- 
federate line of defense ami savini; nun by this moxcment — 
makinj; one man on the o)>enini>; of the salient equal to three 
around it. 

Lie spurred his horse to the battle front and found Cior- 
don's men ready for a charge. I^ce qidetly took his position 
at the head of Gordon's column. "This is no ])lace for Gen- 
eral Lee," said Ciordon. The soldiers heard what Gordon said 
and began to shout "Lee to the rear!" These men. Cicneral 
Lee. arc Georgians and Virginians and have never failed von. " 



Thr Wil.lini zu 21 

*'An«l tlx \ w.Mi'l fail n<»« (!<iriI<Mi \ n.'.-..! vM. r 

frt" (in up lu Tr 

'he hnrM-'« In t.i «it<i a^mu tit* • r v wtttl u|» 

iiiMtrtl in thr (lirrrtian of ||«n«-«N-k°« mrti mtul 
llir din of batik* brgan, wlirti (ninlnn mrl Hammock, in tlir 

■: • • • ,1 

' ■ . ■' 

thr Milimt. F.wrll piivlml l(nm«rur«' brifCMlr aKain<it Han 

i«Hk<» rnjliJ flirtk , fn»m I nrl* \ ««»r) 

ttMiiiii mill tl l>y iinrri^ nnd Mi<M>%ran. > A 

t*i Irati llarriH\ Ml«M«%lpplnl)^ into > ImiI 

ai^ain llir pn>(r«t aroM*. 

pulMTtl llan(iK-k'» ripl>' ' 

anil was tlrivrn out 

trt I ol tiir Mulr > 



..I.. . .1 I... 



iin«l> I I ' 
CiUlfrdi 

"Mull- > 
S«» for I 

f|rr«Mi« iiMllI 
HAlurnd li \\ 



^«itti ill' 

(>n Mat* • nrwi eamr to Ciranl. Hal 

I "luffrrril <!• 



Thr 
Ihnn OttM iwfMi >«nr» mil KMiiiiifii a« u ii wn »i i .'^uiii' »« <m 



22 '1'Ik' \\'il<l<-i-ii('ss ( 'aiiipait'ii. 

vcltrans, side l)y side, with tin- Sixl\ -SrcDtid \ir;;irii;i n^MiiKiit 
and taplui-fd a blazing l)alUry from llic rt iitt r of Sii^i Ts liiu-. 
•liatllr t)f Niw Market." 

Information also rcailicd (irant thai JJiithr was IxdtUd 
up on llif .lani<-> rivtr and could not niovt- like hriiij; inside a 
bottle, with the .lanus and the Appomattox rivers, and 1{( aur*-^ 
gard iicld the eork of tin hottle. so IJutlcr could neither go 
back or come forward. 

On May 18 Grant massed two army corps, the Second and 
Sixth, and sent them to storm the salient. Lee, having c<m- 
traeted his line to the o2)ening of the salient, coidd more effect- 
ually hold that short line; his heavy guns were along tliis new 
base line. Shrapnel, case and canister from twenty-nine guns 
broke the Federal host of twelve thousand before they got 
within infantry range. At this time Ikirnside fell back from 
his attack On Lee's right wing. 

The Federal Army was slowly moving towards its own 
left; seemingly concentrating on that wing. Grant was seek- 
ing a weak link in Lee's chain, testing the whole line, but in 
every assault was driven back. May 19th. — Ewell went 
around the Federal right to ascertain their position. In this 
movement he was assaulted by a large force and lost nine 
luindred of liis men, killed, wounded and missing. But this 
engagement held Grant liaek a day from liis march south- 
ward. 

Hancock was leading Grant's advance southeast on May 
20th, in the direction of the R., F. & P. R. R. To this time 
the casualty of the Federal loss in Spotsyhania. in wounded, 
killed and captured, was eighteen thousand, and the total 
losses of the Army of the Potomac from Rapidan to Spotsyl- 
vania were estimated at over thirty-seven thousand; a third of 
that numl>er was the estimated loss of the Confederate Army. 
Afay 21st. — Kwell led the advance of Lee's Army towards 
Hanover Junction bevond the North Anna river. The fore- 



T\\v WiKlt'mc'jvs ('anipaiKi). 23 

noon of May i'ind thr lirad of the column rrachrU tlir Jum-^ 
tion. At noon tlir Mmr day Amlrraon croMrtl the Norih Anna, 
utiilf i>n May :;a«l. thr TliirtI •■>r|M. iimii r lliil. wa« on llir 
M>uth »iilr oi the utrrant. I^c liiU nut hate Uic ktr'tit'*)- i.i 
alrikc Grant* flank, llr prrfrrrrd a ahortrr wa\ <. 

hi% aouthwarti march. 

Hrrtki-nrulf^- aiui I'ukrtl. \«lii>«r forcrs totalnl ninr tli > 
and. awaitrd Ixr'ii arrival at Hanorrr Junction. May '.' 
Thr anny of Ixr wcrr brhind rude intr«nihin«nt<. nn 
northMartl. awaiting Grant's approachrs, the rmtrr of thi« 
line, cvt' ,' thr Trlrifraph road, was IxinK^trrrt'* old 

corpN Im i i.y ftrld pircr<i. Right of thi* rmtrr «ra« thr 

Srcond rorp* "OKI Stonewall" —and to the left thr ThirtI 
Armr corps. A. P. Hill, riirther up thr strram WarrenS 
eorp^k IT.' ' •' . river and t' ! the ('«•(.' ' !. f' 

Hill M-nt .\ .it six 1*. M. Warrrn I U ir 

rrn's fort-r was prrtty strong. %n thrre was no altark made. 
^\llm darkne%^ enme both «idr% began to fortify. 

F.arly on the 2Mh 1.4-r in<i|)eeted his left wing and wa<i 
thoroughly aroused with ang» r when he obsrrvrd thr •- •- -^ 
Warren had made, and with Haohing rye and great iii' 
his words of rrbukr fell ii|>on Ctenrral Hill. "Why did rou Irt 
tho*e jiTuple crn%% the river? \\'hy did you not drive • 

bark, as (irneral .laekson would have done.'" Hill'* move:. 

ha<l disarrangrd lire's entire line; since hr had drawn bark 
his left I..ee had to retire his right from the river. |>ennitting 
' ' r to rest at Ox F ' Vr North Anna. h. ' * ' ' 

I pn. Voting thii ■ *«' ran see that I • 

was drawn up like a wrdgr. the apes against lb- 

Grant pushrti two corps atross thr rivrr to face Mnithwar<l. 
whilr Hancock's corps cn»sse«l above and far ' - .1 . --i 
Bumsidr attempted to cross at the rmtrr. but I 



24 1 in- W ildti'iicss ( "aini)ai^ii. 

I Ills aptx txafUd a l»ij^ loss in his corps. Ciraiil llmiij^lil htUcr 
of this inovtimiil on llu- iii^lit of llir lititli. for wlitn May li7lh 
dawncil tin- wlioli- I'liUral camp was vacattil antl Grant had 
rcfrossfcl Ihf ri\ tr. Iac was ^rt-ally ilisapiJoinUil llial he did 
not visit (lisasttr upon (irant. willi liis two wiiiji;s s« parated 
on the south siili' of the ri\ir. i»iit iiolhiuf^ coiinttd. his 
rthiilUss spirit never wavcrtd. So Lvv startiil on the last 
lap »)f this wonderful defensive, ajid directly .soutliward, be- 
tween the C( iitral and H.. 1". \ 1'. I'. U.. he pushed tlie Second 
corps, now coinniandeil liy I'.arly. The I'irst corps moved 
around Li-e's. via Ashland. This was a march of twenty-four 
miles in thirty hours, and placed the Confederates in line of 
battle. facin<>' north-eastward on a ridj^e between Totoj)otomy 
and Beaver Dam creek. 

Grant kept close to the bank on the Jiorthern side of the 
Faniunky and tried to cross the stream and take Riciimond. 
This movement on the part of Grant was retarded by General 
I'itz Lee till Lee's wliole army was thrown athwart Grant's 
route. On May 28th Grant moxid his wliole army soutli of 
the Paniunky. but Lee's formidable front broui^lit the Federal 
Army to a halt, so Grant jiauscd to await reinforcements from 
Butler. 

May ."{Oth. — W. F. Smith's corps readied the White House 
and marched to strencrthen Grant's left wing. "(Lee's con- 
tinued sickness during tliis most important epoch interfered 
with his movements considerably.)" From Beauregard, south 
of Richmond. Lee asked for reinfcn-eements. This request was 
not very aceejitable to Beauregard, because of Beauregard's 
disapjiointment in not liaving a previous plan of his carried 
out by the acbninistration. He suggested earlier in the cam- 
paign tliat Lee slionld fall back from Sjxitsylvania to tlie 
Chicahominy and draw Grant's line after him. As Beauregard 
sug<':este(l. only a part of Lee's line held to retard the move- 



Tin* \ViltlcTiM*?v> ( 'aiDimi^n. 25 

inrnt uf Grant, while Uir balanir of hU arm)* »lioulil furm • 
junction with hit, and by a combination of tJio«c two forces 
rtii-ttiii|i«sH ltiitl« r. <«|>turr lutii ninl movr northwani mini 
with th( uiiiti-ii »trvn^h uf tin <•<- two forcri a|(ain«l < ' 
Thia wa« impractical, for leer's Army, mlurrtl by a »utt 
forur to aid Beauregard in capturing Butler, would have been 
an ra%y prey to (irant, with «ii> Lind '' ' 

Iatc bitti-rl\ «tp|>(>M-il llim plan of lim 

that Bcauregartl manifested an unwillingneaa to rrinfortv Ijcr 
when he reachetl the line% around Richmond. 

The ride pitH of l.cc'» men s|M>kr with Name* and (ire and 
with deadly eflect upon the rederala. As Mime one ha« Miiti. 
"So great was the prrrision i>f thrar practii*ed mark%men of 
Iatv that no man or act of men could utand in front of tho%e 
riHe pits and live." 

Ilani-ock attacked the Confederate riglit, in double ctdumn. 
with heavy ftup|Ktrts in the rear. All this was one and the 
same to the«ie v-" '! \ ' ■ ^ 

Fecleral prt-y. A 

TetleraU Imck. while an entiUding fire of the Confederate 
artillery laid three thou<tan<l men of llam>iM*k'4 on the field. 
A nimilar defeat met the atlarking Frdt rnl ior]is on I 
centre and left. I'ractically the fnml Itiif % of (>rniir<> n 
ing column were almost lUerallr destrojred in ten minutes. 
One's blood runs cndd when v«e think of f' Hfier 

of human life on the alter of one man'< %tii|> 

A «H>ntinuation of thi% «laui;litrr wa« attempted when, at 
nin Meade sent C!rant\ order to his suborflinate« to 

ren« u Ilsn. *\ refll%ed lo <• 

order 1 1 :;. . . \V. I". > ..t.inding the 1 .,. .U 

Army n»rp*. writes this sentence: "That onler I refuse to 
obey." (General McNfahon. Chief of Staff. Sixth Federal 
Army corps, has this to say ''ofBcIal): 



20 The W ildcrness Campaign. 

The sccoiiil (111(1 tliiiil r(»iiiiiwiii(l to all/ick cainf Irum (iranl. 
"Tilt order," says Mc.Malion, ■came to the eorps eominanders, 
and to the brigades and to the regiments witliout eommenl. 
To mo\ e that army further, exeept by regular approaelies was 
simply ."111 al)S()hitf impossibility known to In siicli by every 
offieer and man of tlie three eorps engaged. The order was 
obeyed by a desidtary fire from the men as they lay in jiosition 
on the ground." 

Heavy fighting look place on .hint 'Jd mar ]5<tliesda 
ehureh and other points while the armies were eoming into 
position for the grand assault. This was but the forerunner 
of the great battle of Cold Harbor. Lee saw this and was 
ready on the morning of June lid. Cirant threw his whole 
army in one maddened eH'ort against Lee's front all along the 
line. The eonfliet was the bloodiest grapple in modern times. 
Discarding all strategy or manouvering. the mass of dis- 
organized men fell upon the Confederate line with brute force. 
The engagement did not last half an hour, and in that time 
the Federal loss was thirteen thousand men — literally food for 
Confederate cannon. General Lee, wlien tlie Federals were 
dri\en back, sent a messenger to General A. P. Hill, asking 
the result on that part of the line. Hill took this offieer to the 
front and pointed to the gruesome siglit of the dead bodies 
lying actually upon the to]i of each other in piles. "Tell Gen- 
eral Lee it is the same all along the whole line." 

Some one has said, "The Federal Army had indeed sus- 
tained a blow so heavy that even the constant mind and fixed 
resolution of Grant had been sliaken. He felt that he was up 
against it with Lee, even though his army at this time, with 
the addition of Butler, was four to one." There was no way 
to escape this responsibility of a sudden collapse, if relief had 
not come from another source, and that was further success 



Thf W ihirrno-s ( 'uni|miKii- 27 

in the wr«l. umirr Shrmuifi. 'i'lii* rrin*t«tr«l ttir northrm 
mimi to Mimr rxtrnt anil f(*^'*^ (*rant tiair to brrathr. But 
for cncouraitrmrnt tmm t)ii« louri-r tbrrr rould have brm no 
nnirc rr*Tiiit% fi»r the Army of tlir Potomar. 

"So gloomy," »aya Mr. Swinton. a Nortiirm liiatonan. 'wa» 
the niililanr outlook after thr action on the Chicahoininr. ami 
to tufh a llr^rrr hatl thr moral %|>ring of the* puhlit- mind br- 
ixnnr rrlaxrd, that thrrr %ra<i at thi« timr a gnat ilangrr of 
thr ittlla|>*c of thr war." 

The hi«tory of thi* conflict, truthfully written, will thow 
this. The archives of the State Department, whrn one ilay 
mnitr ptihlic, will ^how how drrply thr (tovrmmrnt wa« af- 
f<-( Irtl liy thr want of military «iii «r%« ami to what re<M>lutM>n« 
the Kxecutivc had in ronseqiiencr otrnr. Ilnil not success else- 
where come to brighten thr horison, it would hate been diffi- 
cult to have raiurd new forrvn to recruit the .\rmy of thr 
Potomac, which wa« shaken in its structure, its valor qiirnrhetl 
in blood and thnutantU of its ablest oficrrs killetl and woumle«l. 

Thr rampaigii of onr month, from May llh to .limr ith. 
had oMt thr Federal Commander sixty tht>u%and men ami thrrr 
thouvinti oflitYr^ numl>ers whi«'h are given on the authority of 
Federal historians — while I.er's loss did not exceed eighteen 
thousand. 

The r«'»uii vi..iild seem mi <.ni .-i«orable «~imiiiii' ii< .j-'ti the 
rhoi(Y of rtMites to the James from Culiteiier. which (trneral 
Grant adnptrd, instead of by water up the James and York 
nxers. Two years Iwforr (irnrral McClrllen had rraehrtl 
Cold Harlior with trifling losses, and that too at a time wlicn 
General Ixe's Army was in a mmdition to have efTectrd a 
very much heavier blow than it did on Grant's .\nnT (two 
years later. ^ To attain thr same point Grsnt ' ' -n a 
friffltftil lull of lifr. nor roul.l i! Ih- ssiil lltat hr • \rd 



28 Tlic ^^ ildcnicss ( 'aiiipaii^n. 

a single imporlaiil siuccss l«» oll.stl lliis fearful loss. Jlr liad 
not tlcfcalcil liis ailvcrsary in any of llii- hallle fields of tlie 
campaign, nor did it scctn lliat lie had iidlictcd on liiin even 
a serious blow. 

A re\ ifw of llif uiidlc caiiip/iinii condt iist s the entire move- 
ment. The Army of Northern \'irginia got no reinforecments 
till it riaelied llunover Junetion. and then by IJreekenridgc 
and Piekelt's nine thousand. Lee had held his lines against 
forees largely his sujxrior in nnnihi rs and had inflieted upon 
his enemy at tlie close of this months campaign at Cold Har- 
bor alone the loss of some thirteen thousand iU( ti in thirty or 
forty minutes. 

The mo\emenl of (irant across \'irginia is now t(»nceded 
by his admirers as very unfortunate. He failed to accomplish 
liis expected end. The environment of Richmond could have 
been attained, as stated, without the loss of a man. and yet 
the lives of sixty-three thousand were given for the accompli.sh- 
ment of the same end ! 

The unparalleled loss of life sustained by one month's cam- 
paign from Spotsylvania to Cold Harbor by the Federal Array 
from May 4th to June 4tli. 1864, made it impossible for 
another soldier to be raised for the Army of the Potomac and 
plunged the nation into such dispair that a collapse of the 
Government was only saved by signal successes of the Western 
Army, under Sherman, as before stated. This closes the 
Wilderness Campaign. 

The accompanying ])ocm is a fitting appendage to this Bat- 
tle of the Wilderness- — on the same day of the occurranee of 
this act of John Xicholls of Spartanburg. General Sedgwick 
was killed by a sharp-shooter one and one-half miles northwest 
of Spotsylvania Courthouse near Simlight. A liandsomc stone 
marks the place where he fell. 



Thr Wililrrnrss ( '{inipaifni- 29 

JOHN NICH61.LS. OF SPARTAN'Bt'R(;. S i\ 

(The author of thin poem U John Jaromr Roonry and Um 
linen wr • f 



1», I 



You tolti your talc how your brave bo)** fought 

In the (la)H of '63; 

How they carrie<i "OhI Glory" throuch field and floo<l 

Front the mountainN to the Hea. 

And aa lonv an thr heart will beat with pride. 

\\\ 

Ai.' > blue 

Shall nnK upun the minMtrpl'K tonjrue. 

Rut I'll tell it will make you think— 

An nunc an • 

That the Northlan<i hadn't the only rail 

Of dean white manly actn. 

You know how Grant had maMed our men. 

In T' . ' .. 

Ai. a town. 

He |>Ui>iltHi Ua U> Uto iiMd. 

W. pii'irt- charge 

T.. 

Hut th< i with stubborn frrip 

Of Uic _ . ,rkj«. 

The deadly hail came tearing out 

Of their forwani rifle pitii. 

Ami the "Yank", who trie«l to get freah air 

Would take it in cut-up bitiu 

Well, I need'nt i< " -o pumped it back. 

In a rtendy •tr- A, 

And «' Ht tip 

Of a "J i.l: 

Well, what do you think ? No, youll never ffti«a«. 

If jrou T'~ •'•<* whole year throuifh — 

When • t« went crackint; like kindlinff wood 

And the oir waj red and blue. 



30 Tlic Wilderness ( ';nni)ai<!;n. 

Out of tlu' nearest rifle pit, 

Where tlu\v lay securely walled, 

As sure as you live, before our f^uns, 

A "Johnny rebel" crawled. 

To say we couldn't believe our eyes. 

Is to draw it not too fine — 

But .sure enough he was creepinj? along, 

Straight to our blazing line. 

What's that you asked — did we stop to look ? 

Well, you should have seen the way 

We shot the stream of molten fire 

At that mad, dim patch of gray. 

Why, you'd have thought an ant could not live out there. 

Where that seething torrent fell; 

And you'd say that a passing butter-fly 

Would singe in that living hell. 

But there he was a-crawling down, 

Full length on the crimson grass — 

The turf would jump where our bullets struck, 

And the blue smoke rise and pass. 

But still, with a death-defying luck, 

That "Johnny rebel" came, 

With never a halt or turn aside. 

From that bath of lead and flame. 

He'd got some fifteen feet away 

From the mouth of his rifle pit, 

(If ever the law of chance held good 

He'd never get back to it.) 

When he reached the little sumac bush, 

That grew in the open field 

(It wasn't leafy enough for a screen, 

Nor thick enough for a shield). 

And he half stretched up and broke a twig 

Heighho, how the bullets flew! 

He needn't have snapped it off, we thought — 

Our lead would have cut it in two. 

Then he turned a hand to his old canteen; 

He fixed it fast to the stick, 

And forward he leaned on the bloody grass, 

With a motion sharp and quick. 



Th«* WiMrriHVH'. ('ainimiKij. 31 



Whrn up from th« mm! a iwUlicr rm b ed 

r • 

'tnfn i(uafT 



Come over hiii ilyinir fac*. 

Anil wr thouirht wr wiw. thn>uirh lh« driftinfr Mnok«». 

The North ami South cmhrare. 

Jim Brown, he never waji known to melt, 

! ...V-o I .'..,vn at h ' ■• I 

1 ' • . :ie»l away — 

i 

an habirx then. 

V^ • ' .' ►. '.iw, 

I" t .• M;;;!.!;, Ui.i- ■.vi..a i.a-. :...'lie«l OUf »hot 

F'nim the brrajit of our dearrxt foe. 

many a ileetl I have ^«'<•^ in war. 

1 ui the bookA have Kpclle«l out lanre. 

Hut never a Kwecter act I'll nee. 

Till I tak. .-! 

Y-H. we . n the flight WM done, 

^ at hit'ht 

rhe mory waii told and tnl.l 

^' in our inmn.it hearta, 

A .-.r^ are burnt. 

Shall van: ..||ji of Spartanburir, 

Of the Sowln t nnuma Kirst. 



